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A psychiatric assistance dog or psychiatric service dog is a sub-category of assistance dog trained to assist their handler with a psychiatric disability or a mental disability, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.[1][2]
A psychiatric assistance dog can assist their handler by providing a safe presence that grounds them; the dog may perhaps lean on the person to provide a calming pressure.[3]
- ^ Esnayra J (July 2007). "Help from man's best friend. Psychiatric service dogs are helping consumers deal with the symptoms of mental illness". Behav Healthc. 27 (7): 30–2. PMID 18027616.
- ^ Service Dog Central - Psychiatric Service Dogs Retrieved on August 17, 2007.
- ^ Esnayra, Joan (July 2007). "Help from man's best friend: psychiatric service dogs are helping consumers deal with the symptoms of mental illness". Behavioral Healthcare – via Northeast State Database.